Youth with a Mission – how it all began
In 1956, a 21-year-old student named Loren Cunningham was praying when he saw something that would change his life forever: waves breaking over a map of the world — transforming into young people going from everywhere to everywhere, showing God's love and sharing the gospel.
That vision never let him go.
At the time, mission meant years of study, official sending structures, institutional backing. "Youth" and "mission" simply didn't belong in the same sentence. Loren thought differently: what if young people could just go — now, with what they had?
That's exactly what he did. And from that came one of the largest mission movements in the world.
YWAM today
Several million people have gone through YWAM programmes since then. Every year, thousands sign up for the Discipleship Training School (DTS) — the entry point for involvement with YWAM, offered on every continent.
YWAM is non-denominational, decentralised, and active in over 180 nations. A growing proportion of all YWAM staff now comes from non-Western countries — this movement is no longer a Western export.
In 1978, the University of the Nations (UofN) was founded: today it runs 300 courses in 100 languages across 550 locations worldwide. The UofN trains Christians for concrete spheres of society — from arts and science to education, healthcare, communications, and government. Learn more about the UofN
Your place in this movement
Whether for a week or a lifetime, with a degree or without, in English or not — there's a place for you in YWAM.
Going deeper
- Fragrance of Faith — a free documentary series on YWAM's work around the world. Highly recommended.
- Loren's story and how to hear God's voice: Is That Really You, God? by Loren Cunningham
- International website: ywam.org
Evangelism
We want to pass on the message of Jesus Christ in a contemporary and understandable way, so that the people of today can understand and accept it. We use creative possibilities such as music, video, websites, pantomime, cultural performances, sports and leisure activities. We want to reach people of all ages in different situations of their lives all over the world with this peaceful message of love and forgiveness.
Training
On the basis of biblical-Christian values, we want to help people develop their personalities and abilities so that they can consciously occupy and take their place in society and church, in world mission and in church life. Training, discipleship that lives from relationships, and practical application of what we have learned are inseparable.
Mercy Ministries
We want to bring help and hope where the need is greatest. Making God known has a practical side. Every year about 400,000 people worldwide are reached by such ministries of mercy. Some examples: Serving street children in India; caring for abandoned children in Asia; providing food and shelter for refugees and victims of flood disasters in Asia and Africa; orphanages; AIDS relief... etc.
Our Structure and Beliefs
As YWAM has grown over the years, it has developed as a "family of ministries", rather than a highly structured, centralized agency. Although we have international and regional service offices for YWAM, we do not have a central "headquarter". Each YWAM location, training center, and ministry is responsible for planning its own training programs, outreaches, for its staff development and defining their objectives and activities.
All YWAM locations are tied together by shared faith, vision, and values.
Statement of Faith
We of Youth With A Mission believe that the Bible is God's inspired and authoritative word, revealing that Jesus Christ is God's son;
- That people are created in God's image;
- That He created us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ;
- That although all people have sinned and come short of God's glory, God has made salvation possible through the death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ;
- That repentance, faith, love and obedience are fitting responses to God's initiative of grace towards us;
- That God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth;
- and: That the Holy Spirit's power is demonstrated in and through us for the accomplishment of Christ's last commandment, "...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15).
Downloads
The Foundational Values of Youth With A Mission
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affirms that the Bible is the authoritative word of God and, with the Holy Spirit's inspiration, the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry.
Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affirms that the Bible is the authoritative word of God and, with the Holy Spirit's inspiration, the absolute reference point for every aspect of life and ministry. Based upon God's word, who He is, and His initiative of salvation, the following responses are strongly emphasized in YWAM:
- Worship: We are called to praise and worship God alone
- Holiness: We are called to lead holy and righteous lives that exemplify the nature and character of God
- Witness: We are called to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with those who do not know Him
- Prayer: We are called to engage in intercessory prayer for the people and causes on God's heart, including standing against evil in every form
- Fellowship: We are called to commit to the Church in both its local nurturing expression and its mobile multiplying expression.
The Foundational Values of Youth With A Mission are the expression of our basic beliefs coupled with specific directives given by God since YWAM's beginning in 1960. They are recorded here in order to pass on to successive generations that which God has emphasized to us. These shared beliefs and values are the guiding principles for both the past and future growth of our mission. Some are common to all Christians everywhere; others are distinctive to Youth With A Mission. The combination of these beliefs and values make up the unique family characteristics of YWAM - our "DNA." They are values we hold in high regard which determine who we are, how we live and how we make decisions.
- Know God
- Make God known
- Hear God’s Voice
- Practice Worship and Intercessory Prayer
- Be visionary
- Champion young People
- Be broad structured and decentralized
- Be international and interdenominational
- Have a biblical Worldview
- Function in Teams
- Exhibit servant Leadership
- Do first, then teach
- Be relationship oriented
- Value the individual
- Value Families
- Practice Dependance on God for Finances
- Practice Hospitality
- Communicate With Integrity